It won’t be easy — and the Lakers honestly have bigger concerns if Pau isn’t back in a few games — but Kobe can’t do his MVP campaign any harm if he can keep LA in the top five with Bynum and Gasol out injured.

The loss of Pau Gasol (sprained ankle) for at least a week knocks them down a few spots in these rankings. With stops this week at Dallas (Tuesday) and Utah (Thursday), on the heels of losses at New Orleans and Houston, they could easily go winless on their four-game trip.